Until quite recently the activities of the Jesuits in Ethiopia were one of the more neglected topics in both Ethiopian studies and Jesuit history. Fortunately, as is attested in the bibliography at the end of this volume (pp. 531–47), this has been largely rectified in recent years through a series of publications. However, almost without exception these studies have drawn upon the published and unpublished written sources left either by the Jesuits themselves or their Ethiopian interlocuters. The present volume marks a stunning departure from these previous works by pioneering the archaeology of the Jesuit missions.

A multi-disciplinary international team from Ethiopia, Spain, England, Portugal, France and Wales worked together for over a decade to uncover the hitherto neglected material remains of one of Catholicism's earliest ventures in Africa. Their work has resulted in this monumental volume

Victor M. Fernández opens the volume (pp. 1–15) with a brief but illuminating introduction to the team's methods. This is followed by Andreu Martínez D'Alòs-Moner's survey of infrastructure (pp. 16–34), which provides an overview which will be particularly welcome to readers not previously familiar with the Jesuits’ activities. The bulk of the volume, over 400 pages (pp. 35–438) is devoted to a site-by-site presentation of the dozen or so excavations (Fǝremona, Azäzo, Gorgora, Dänqäz etc.) where ‘finds’ were documented, as well as at least eight sites which are mentioned in the literature, but could not be located. Each of the former begins with a historical introduction to the particular site and then moves on to a discussion which highlights particularly noteworthy structures or objects found at each. While, as expected, these are often churches, the authors also pay ample attention to hydraulics systems, residences and other secular aspects of material culture. Remarkably, in reporting with their noses to the ground archaeo-detective work, they never seem to lose track of the broader contexts, whether European, Ethiopian or transnational (Jesuit). As one would expect in such a volume the rich descriptions are supplemented by literally hundreds of photographs, both historical and original sketches, tables and maps. To these are added five appendices discussing such topics as topography (pp. 479–82), laser-scanner reconstructions (pp. 483–94), ground-penetrating radar (pp. 495–505), construction materials, conservation and restoration proposals (pp. 506–18) and finally public archaeology in Azazo (pp. 519–30). The last of these considers the involvement and impact of the excavations on the local community and the challenge of ensuring that they preserve their agency and proprietorial rights in the aftermath of this largely external initiative.

Many of the findings presented in this volume will be of only passing interest to the readers of this Journal. Pottery, plates, drinking glasses and cooking utensils may all be part of daily life which we take for granted. At first glance it might appear as something of a stretch to go from these to issues of theology, acculturation and conversion. This having been said, chapter iv, ‘The politics of domination in missionary and royal architecture’ (pp. 439–56), does a wonderful job of summarising some of the themes that emerge from the masses of material. According to the authors, Carlos Cañete and Jorge de Torres, these material markers of hygiene and education ‘correspond to a process of social entanglement with local elites’ (p. 440). Indeed, they argue that the distinction between Jesuit/European and Ethiopian/local may not be as meaningful as the manner in which ‘Ethiopians from the elite established an alliance with the Jesuits to achieve their interests in opposition to the rest of the Ethiopian population’ (p. 442).

In the conclusions (pp. 457–78), Victor M. Fernández deals with some of the more technical issues such as the introduction of lime mortar, and the striking fact that few of the Jesuits’ ritual or artistic innovations seem to have survived the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1632.

While the audience for this volume will be limited, this is a product of its largely technical nature. It is of the highest quality and will reward any and all who consult it.